Pneumatic door for refrigerator-cars.



S. A. MILLER.

PNEUMATIC DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAYZT, 1914.

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IIIIIIIIIIIIII' n M a w f W INVENTOR WITNESSES:

S. A. MILLER.

PNEUMATIC DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY27, 1914.

1, 1 50,53 1 Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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pattern trans PATENT airmen.

SIGFRID A. MILLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

PNEUMATIC DOOR FOR REFRIGERATOR-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIGFRID A. MILL R, .a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Doors for Refrigerator-Cars, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic doors for refrigerator cars and the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, substantial, easily applied pneumatic attachment for refrigerator doors and the like, by which the door opening may be hermetically sealed, and which is so constructed that it may also be applied to doors in water-tight compartments in ships and the like.

Further'objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is avertical section through a refrigerator door, showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through same, showing the pneumatic attachment in the extended position. Fig. 3 is a front elevation in section on line XX, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the door of a refrigerator car, which is supported by hangers 2 and rollers 3' on a track a in the usual manner. The door is in this instance provided with a pocket or recess 5 which is large enough to receive a panel 6, which is adapted to be extended into the door opening 7 of the car proper. The panel 6 is adapted to fit the door opening 7 in the car and is supported by toggle hinges 8. A. suitable number of telescoping'guides 9 secured at one end to the door and at the other end to the panel is provided for the purpose of guiding the panel and to support it against lateral movement. Completely surrounding the panel and secured to its outer edge, as at 10, is a bellows 11, the other end of which is secured to the door, as at 12. The bellows consists of two folding sections 13 and 1 1 to the edges of which are secured bars 15, 16, 17 and 18; and secured near the outer corners of each bar are springs 19, which are provided for the purpose of drawing the folding sections of the bellows in an inward direction when the bellows is collapsed to permit the panel 6 to be folded into the recess or pocket 5 in the door. Toggle hinges 8 are, similarly provided with coil springs 20, or like means, the tension of which will normally tend to fold the hinges and draw the panel into the recess.

Suitably secured in the door is an inlet valve 21 through which air may be admitted to fill the bellows and extend the panel 6 into the door opening 7 of the car. The continued pressure thus applied will completely extend the sides of the bellows, and as this is constructed of rubber or like resilient material it will form a tight joint between the panel and the door opening. Grooves 22 being formed in the door opening to further air in forming a complete closure at this point.

In operation, after the car is packed, and when the door is moved along the track to the closed position it is only necessary to connect valve 21 with a suitable source of air supply and admit sufiicient air to force the panel outwardly into the door opening where the movement is limited by a stop 23. The air is permitted to flow until a certain pressure is obtained therein which is sufiicient to force the flexible material of the bellows into grooves 22, the pressure being registered upon a gage 24. The valve is then closed and the air connection disconnected. The bellows being secured as at 10 and 12 around its edges will thus form an air-tight closure between the panel and the door which will cause the air to become absolutely hermetically sealed. It furthermore acts as an insulator at this point which prevents any heat from the outside atmosphere from being radiated through the door.

"When opening the door, it is only necessary to open thevalve to permit the air to escape. Springs 19, together with springs 20, will then draw the panel back into the pocket in the door, and will at the same time completely expel the air. The door is then free to be opened by sliding it along the track in the usual manner.

In some instances it has been proven desirable to lock the panel in its extended position; this is accomplished by providing bars 26, the inner ends of which are connected to and operated by a centrally pivoted lever 27 Lever 27 is provided with a 1 bellows chamber, bellows connecting the sec,- tions and 'expandible to provide a peripheral handle 28, or like means, by which it is intothe door opening, and form aseal with turned, and this movement is consequently transmitted to bars 26, the outer ends of which are adapted to be projected into sockets 29 in the sides of the door frame or opening. The panel is thus locked and cannot be removed until the bars are withdrawn. A door constructed as here shown may also be applied to advantage in water tight compartments and the like, as it forms an absolutely hermetic seal.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the door are such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the 'scope of the appended claims, and that I 20.

do not wish to, limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

;. l Having thus described my invention,what -I:claim.and desireto secure by Letters Patient is 1. The combination with a door opening, of a door having an inflatable locking means adapted to fill the opening, and form a seal with the walls thereof by peripheral expanslon.

2. A door divided into two sections in the plane of the door, said sections inclosing a bellows chamber, and bellows connecting the sections and expandible to provide a peripheral seal with the walls of an opening, which said door is designed to close.

3. A door divided into two sections in the plane of the door, said sections inclosing a bellows chamber, bellows connecting the sections and expandible to provide a peripheral seal with the walls of an opening, which said door is: designed to close, and means .for mamtammgjthe sections normally collapsed. 4.- A door-divided into two sections inthe plane/ofthe.door,-s'aid sections inclosing a sealwith the walls of anopening, which said door ISCltESlgIlGCl to close, and springactuated toggles connectlng the door sections and operating normally. to collapse the sections.

' 5. The combination with a door, having a pocket formed therein and'a door frame, of a panel mounted in the pocket which is adapted to beextended'into the opening in the door frame, a bellows interposed bea tween the panel and'the door, andimeans for inflating said bellows to, extend the panel .Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of-Patents,

7 The combination with a door having a a pocket formed therein and a door frame, of

a panel mounted in the pocket which is adapted to be extended intothe opening in the door frame, a bellows interposed between the panel and the door, means for inflating.

said bellows to extend. the panel into the pocket formed therein and adoor frame, a

-'80 door opening, and grooves formedin the pair of hinges secured in said pocket, a panel I carried by said hinges, a bellows secured to the panel at one end and in the pocket at the other end, means for inflating said bellows to force the panel out into the door opening, and springs in the hinges to fold same and to retract the panel when the bellows is deflated. V

9. The combination with a door and the opening which it is adapted to close, of a panel carried bythe door which is adapted to be extended into the opening, a bellows interposed -=between the panel and door to provide a peripheral seal with the walls of the opening, and guide members connecting the, door and panel to prevent side movement of the panel and telescoping entirely between said door and panel. 7

10.,The combination with a door and the opening which it is adapted to close, of a panel carried by the door which is adapted to be extended into the opening, and a bellows interposed between the panel and door to provide a peripheral seal with the walls ofthe opening. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my'hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. I-IERRING, W. W. HEALEY.

Washington, D. G.

SIGFRID A. MILLER. V 

